Wisconsin geography
Rolling green hills continue the western third of Wisconsin. Called the Western Highlands, they end up in sandstone bluffs and bluffs that overlook the Mississippi and Santa Cruz rivers.
The Scottish Highlands (anchored by the Hayward, Eagle River and Wasau) is a forested, rolling region that includes the state’s highest point, Timms Hill, at 1,915 feet.
21 Apostle Island, off the northern tip of Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior, is known for its pristine birch forests and rugged cliffs.
- Allcitycodes: Provides map of area codes in Wisconsin by county and city.
- Ask4beauty: Introduction to the state of Wisconsin, addressing geography, history, politics, economy and population.
- Toppharmacyschools: Lists all educational institutes in Wisconsin, including psychology, biological science, clinical psychology, computer science, economics, fine arts, etc.
Door County Peninsula, approximately 75 miles long, surrounded by dunes, small bays and inlets and several sandy beaches. It ends in a series of small, rocky islands; Washington Island and Chambers Island are the largest in that group.
Innumerable lakes (mostly small in size) dot the entire Wisconsin landscape. Lake Winnebago is the 2nd largest natural freshwater lake in any state behind Lake Okeechobee in Florida.
Wisconsin’s most significant rivers include the Chippewa, Fox, Menominee, Mississippi, Santa Cruz, Wisconsin, and Wolf.
Wisconsin Famous Natives
People listed are almost always native to the state. We do (on occasion) include those who have either lived within the state for most of their adult lives or have made significant contributions to the state in their personal endeavors.
A
- Directed by Jim Abrahams
- Actor Mark Aleimo
- Don Ameche actor
- Lino Dante “Alan” Ameche (Horse) football player
- Aldrich Ames CIA counterintelligence, Russian spy
- Roy Chapman Andrews explorer, naturalist
- Les Espina politician
B
- John Bardeen physicist, Nobel laureate
- Tom Barrett politician
- Eric Benet singer
- Michael Bennett football player
- Lamont Bentley actor
- Rowland Bernard “Rabbit” Berigan musician
- John J. Blaine politician
- Robert “Rocky” Blair football player
- USAF Richard “Dick” Bong ‘s “highest-scoring air ace”
- John Bradley Ivo Jima’s Flag Collector
- Caron Butler basketball player
C
- Leader Carrie Chapman Catt women’s suffrage
- Astronaut Leroy Chieo
- Chordettes Quartet
- Chester Cartoonist Commodore
- Actress Ellen Corby
- Seymour Cray supercomputer architect, engineer
- John Kudahy Ambassador
D
- Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer
- Tyne actress Daly
- Actor Willem Dafoe
- Written by August Derleth
- Gene Dixon psychic, astrologer
- Activist Bernardine Dorn
- Ryan Duffy Politician
E-G
- Laurence Eagleberger diplomat, statesman
- Howard “Howie” Epstein musician
- Chris Farley actor
- Susie Favor-Hamilton runner
- Russell “Russ” Feingold politician
- Author Zona Gale
- Hamlin Garland writer
- King Camp Gillette industrialist, inventor
- Actress Heather Graham
- Harry “Bud” Grant professional football coach
- Owen Gromm artist
- James Groppi civil rights activist, Catholic priest
- Tim Gullickson tennis player, coach
H
- Actress Deirdre Hall
- Devin Harris basketball player
- Jerry Harrison songwriter, musician
- Robert Lee “Bobby” Hatfield singer
- Beth Hayden Olympic medalist, athlete
- Eric Hayden Olympic medalist, speed skater
- Philip “Phil” Helmut Jr. pro poker player
- Arnold “Arnie” Herber football player
- Woodrow “Woody” Herman musician, bandleader
Madison
Named for President James Madison, this Wisconsin state capital is located in the South Central region near the Illinois border . Madison is built on the isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, two of the many glacial lakes that make this state famous.
This American downtown town is as American as apple pie and they love their football teams, especially the local University of Wisconsin – Madison Badgers. Alumni, students, and residents are loyal followers, and attending a home game, or at least stopping at a packed sports bar on game night, is a worthwhile addition to Wisconsin vacation plans .for any sports enthusiast.
Madison is a beautiful city with over 200 city parks, several well kept bike and walking trails and a rich variety of art history and natural history museums, theaters and fun things to do. To the east is Lake Michigan, ideal for swimming, camping and water sports. During the winter, ice fishing and ice skating are popular pastimes in Wisconsin.
- Actors Chris Farley and Tyne Daly, Olympic speed skater Eric Hayden and playwright Thornton Wilder hail from Madison, Wisconsin.
- Madison ranks second in the United States in overall education according to Forbes Magazine.
- In 1967, musician Otis Redding, known for his Song Dock of the Bay, died at age 26 when his plane crashed in Monona Lake outside of Madison.
- The Wisconsin nickname ‘Wisconsin’ is not a direct reference to the animal. In the 1800s, miners in the area took over old mine shafts and dug quick shelters in the ground, rather than building houses above ground. This led to the nickname ‘Badgers’ and the name stuck around.
Check out these great things to do in Madison on your Wisconsin vacation:
University of Wisconsin – Madison
This state university campus is located in a bustling city and adds a lot of character, culture and fun to the Madison. Founded in 1848, enrollment usually exceeds 40,000 students, adding significantly to the city’s population. The school is home to the Badgers’ favorite sports teams and organizes theatrical, musical and artistic events promoting many things to do in Madison Wisconsin. The 46th Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney is an alumnus of this university.
Henry Vilas Zoo
One of several free zoos in the United States, the Dane County Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin is open year-round. A great family stop for a Wisconsin vacation, visitors will enjoy red pandas, giraffes, chimpanzees, lemurs and the lively antics of meerkats and sugar gliders.The zoo is surrounded by a city park with grassy open spaces for lots of activities. In winter, the park’s lagoon is converted into an ice rink.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin
Located in the nearby town of Spring Green, Taliesin is the 600-acre architectural laboratory of the late great Frank Lloyd Wright. In this birthplace of ideas, the architect put his unique concepts to the test, experimenting with form and flow to create structures that are in harmony with the natural world.The landscape is dotted with Wright’s buildings, many on a smaller exemplary scale and blending into the landscape in his signature way and all unique and captivating. The tour is available from May 1st to October 31st.To continue your cultural tour of Madison, visit the Unitarian Meeting Housing, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a member of the congregation. announced the American A National Historic Landmark in 2004, the church was completed in 1951 with members helping to haul the stone and weave the curtains.
